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Montana Tech spikers start season on high note

Masha Korol had 12 kills and Tori Chelini added 24 assists to lead the Montana Tech volleyball team to a 21-25, 30-38, 25-18, 25-20 win over Southern Oregon at the Summer Slam Tournament in Fullerton, Calif., on Wednesday.

The Orediggers followed up that victory with a 22-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-16, 15-13 win over Corban University to run their early-season record to 2-0.

Southern Oregon got the jump on the Orediggers in the first set but Montana Tech roared back with three straight wins.

Haley Druyvestein, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL in her right knee, led the Orediggers with four blocks. Sabrina Hopcroft led all players with 19 digs.

The hard-fought win against Corban saw Gena McMillan and Angela Molesworth record 12 kills apiece to led the 'Diggers.

Nicole Peacock had 11 kills and 13 digs in the nightcap win.

State Mid-Am Golf Tournament tees off in Helena

HELENA — Mark Mance of Whitefish will defend his title when the 31st Montana State Mid-Amateur Championship begins Thursday in Helena.

The 54-hole tournament is being played at Green Meadow Country Club.

Mance won the 2016 title at Polson Bay Golf Course.

Other former champions in the 102-player field include two-time winner Spencer Williams (2015, 2012), Parker Heller (2014) and Rob Logsdon (2005). All three are from Helena.

This is the third time Green Meadow has hosted the tournament, It was also played there in 1997 and 2007.

Burnett promoted to Helena Senators' head coach

Jon Burnett has been selected as the new Helena Senators Class AA Legion baseball coach.

Burnett, who has served as the Class A Helena Reps coach for the past seven years, replaces longtime coach Dave Thennis, who announced his retirement last week.

"Coach Thennis built this into one of the strongest programs in the state, and I'm very excited to get this opportunity," said Burnett. "Dave has been the the biggest influence on my career and I'm very lucky to have be able to learn from him on a daily basis."

Burnett's Reps went 44-16 this past season. Over Burnett's career, his team's compiled a 287-119 record for a .701 winning percentage.

Burnett described his coaching philosophy as both working and playing hard.

"I'm a strong believer in fundamentals of the game," he said. "We'll work hard to be fundamentally sound and do the little things right. Expect to see an aggressive playing style and lots of energy on the field."

Burnett noted that the Senators graduated 12 seniors this summer, and there will be a lot of holes to fill next spring.

"We have some young, athletic kids that will get the opportunity to compete at the AA level, and I'm excited to watch them grow," the new Senators' coach added.

University of Montana golf coach takes job in Iowa

MISSOULA -- Matt Higgins has announced his decision to step down as women’s golf coach at Montana. He was hired in August 2015.

Higgins is leaving Montana for an administrative/coaching position at Upper Iowa, an NCAA Division II school in Fayette, Iowa.

A national search will be conducted to find Higgins’ replacement. Montana opens its fall schedule in less than a month, co-hosting with Montana State the Battle at Old Works in Anaconda on Sept. 11-12.

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